Lighting unit



sept. 24, 1940.

A. F. PIEPER 2.215,531

LIGHTING UNIT Filed July 14, 1939 2 Sheets-Shea?I l www /XJ'SAITORNEYS Sept. 24, 1940. A. F. PlEPl-:R

LIGHTING UNIT Filed July 14, `1915s) 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

INV ENT OR. vaonfse meer BY v u %zs ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT ortica Applyplsgilnnzgsa1` 'lclaima particularly adapted for a dental oilice. An object of my invention is to provide a lighting unit particularly suited for a dental olce 5 which may be manufactured at a reasonable cost and which furnishes, in a single lightingv unit, the proper illumination desired for the dental oflice as a whole; the more intense illumination required for the field or area of the room in which l the instruments and apparatus which the dentist frequently uses are located; and the vconcentrated and intense illumination demanded for performing operations in the oral cavity.

My invention further contemplates a unitary ll lighting fixture or unit for a dental oice which furnishes, in a single unit, the proper intensity Iof light for each portion ofthe oiice without causing annoyance to the patient or dentist, while operations are being performed in the patient's go mouth. I

Other objectsrand advantages of my invention will be particularly set forth in the claims andl will appear from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying 25 drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel lighting unit; Fig. 2 is an end elevation'of the same; Fig. 3 is a top plan view oi the unit; an Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the unit; Y

Fig. 5 is a view taken on the line 5 3 of 4 l in the direction indicated bythe arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a View showing a slightly modified 35 form of my invention.

As shown in Fig. 1, the lighting unit, indicated' generally by the numeral Il is supported by means of a bale I2 from any suitable supporting means I3. When used in a dental office, for

o which the unit is more particularly adapted, the

support I3 is preferably carried by and constitutes partV of the dental unit. The bale is pivotally secured, as indicated at I4, to the opposite sides of the unit.

5- As shown in Fig. 3, the lighting unit is prefer- My invention relates to a novel'lighting uni grasped when the dentist is atv any position adjacent the lamp so that he may tip the lamp to concentrate the light as desired.

-As shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, a pair oi' preferably arcuate end shields I9 are sup- 5 ported from. the side plates I8, and have lips 2| for supporting a bottom plate of glass 22. The

plate of glass 22 is suitably sanded, rippled, or otherwise -treated to transmit and diffuse the light without glare. In the upper sides of the frame, and suitably' supported from the side plates, are a pair of glass plates 23 which are also suitably treated to transmit and dliuse the light without glare. Preferably, the plates extend at an angle to the plates 22, as shown in the drawl5 ings.

Arranged in the lighting unit are a plurality of light sources, which are generally indicated by the numerals 2t and 26. Preferably, the-'light sources are of the fluorescent electric discharge '20 type employing mercury vapor as the medium for sustaining the arc. Further, the light sources have daylight color correction. Light sources` of this character are well known in the art of lighting and need not be more particularly de- 25 scribed. As shown in Fig. 3, the light sources are in the form of tubes which extend from one A side-of the unit to the other. Preferably, the

character of tlie light sources chosen is such as to require low energy.

The light sources 2d are provided with reflectors 27 which may be parabolic in shape although the exact shape ofthe reflectors is 'not important.-

Brackets 30 secured to the side plates and interfltting with the reflectors, as shown at 30' (Fig. 35 5). are provided to support the reectors. The reilectors-21 are arranged to throw the light, with the position of the parts shown in the drawings, downward and to provide an intense and concentrated, although diffused, illumination for en- 40 abling the dentist to operate in the oral cavity. By the use of three light sources spaced relatively close together and with adequate reflectors, the light may be directed on andin the patients mouth and all operations performed without any additional light except those requiring visibility at the extreme rear of the oral cavity. Where operations at the extreme rear'of the oral cavity are to be performed, in some cases, the dentist needs in addition a small hand-controlled light adapted to be projected into the patients 'mouth and concentrated on the portion to be operated upon. The light sources 26 are pro-f vided with suitable reectors 28 supported by brackets carried by the side plates so as to dlrect the light, with the position of the parts shown in the drawings, in an` upward direction. Preferably also, these reiiectors are parabolic in shape, although other shapes of reectors may be used if desired.

Supported between the side plates is a. shelf or trough 29 which is adapted to support the reactors forming a part of the electric circuit of the light tubes, as is well understood in the art of lighting. Since the lamp in its preferred form employs iive light sources, ve reactors are required which may be supported adjacent each other on the shelf 29. At the top of the unit and extending between the side plates is a top shield 3l which serves to cover the reactors and extends slightly over the edges of the glass plates 23, as shown at 32.

The unit is mounted so that it is at the proper elevation to enable the dentist to reach conveniently the hand rods I8 of the unit for adjusting its 4angular position with respect tothe horizontal so as to direct the rays from the light sources 24 onto the patient. The direct light emanating from these three closely spaced sources, aided by reiiectors, is concentrated and intense, although diii'used by reason of the character of the sources ci light used and the use of the diffusing plate 22. This direct illumination is of such intensity that the dentist can perform most operations in the oral cavity without ,requiring any further i1- lumination. In certain cases when the extreme rear of the oral cavity must be operated upon, a

Y small lamp, the light of which is projected into the mouth, may be necessary.

The light sources 26 are directed toward the ceiling and sides of the room and provide indirect illumination. The indirect light is reflected from the walls into a eldor area closely adjacent the unit so as to properly illuminate the unit, particularly the tray upon which the instruments are supported and the adjacent apparatus which the dentist frequently uses. Considerable illumination is required for this purpose, as the dentist must take from the tray objects so small that tweezers are required. Moreover, the dentist requires a light closely adjacent his unit of suiiicient intensity to enable him 'to match the various shades of teeth and porcelain, and the reflected light from the sources 2B is suiiicient for this purpose. At the same time the remainder of the room is lighted suflciently by indirect light to permit ordinary'operations to be carried on in the remainder of the room, such as when the dentist goes to his cabinet to select materials or additional instruments.

Of particular advantagein connection with my light unit is the fact that the sources of indirect light are hidden behind and blocked out by the sources of direct light so that neither the patient nor the dentist is conscious of any other light source in the room which is annoying to some people, particularly when an operation is being performed. Regardless of the position of`adjust amasar 28 -there is provided a longitudinally extending slot 31 through which a portion of the light from the sources 26 is directed so that the light sources 26 tend to aid the light sources 24 in providing a greater intensity of direct illumination. Similarly, the reilectors 21 are provided with longitudinally extending slots 38 through which a portion of the light from the light sources 24 is directed upward to increase. the intensity of indirect illumination. The advantages of Ithis form of my invention are the same as in the previous form.

While I have described the preferred forms of my invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A lighting unit comprising a single unitary frame, a set of straight line light sources mounted therein for one character of illumination, reecting means for said sources, a set of light sources for a second character of illumination located on the opposite side of the unit, reflecting means for said sources, said reflecting means lying between the two sets of sources, onelof said reflectin'g means having slots through which a part of the rays of light from the associated sources may pass and intensify the illumination from the other light sources.

2. A lighting unit comprising a single unitary' ectors for the two sets of light sources being staggered and arranged in back to back substan- 4tially contiguous relation to each other whereby the reiiectors for the two sets of light sources being arranged in back to back substantially contiguous relation to each other whereby the overall height of the unit lis maintained4 at substantially a minimum, and a plurality of reactors for said light sources carried by said frame and nested between two of the upper reectors so that the light from'either reector will not be intercepted by said reacto'rs.

4. A lighting unit for 'al dental oiiice to give indirect general room illumination and concentrated illumination for enabling the dentist to operate within the oral cavity. said unit comprising a frame, a plurality of straight line parallel uore'scent light sources mounted in' said frame,

a separate concave trough shaped4 reector for each oi said light sources mounted in said frame so as to concentrate the light from said' light sources in an intense field of illumination lupon the patient and upon the dentists work space adjacent the patient, a second set of straight line 'parallel fluorescent light sources superposed in said frame with respect to said iirst set, a separate concave trough shaped reflector for each of said second set of lightsources mounted in said frame in back to back substantially contiguous relation with said first set, said second set having its reflectors arranged angularly to each other to direct the rays of light divergently upward for general room illumination,l and reactors mounted in said frame between some-of said reectors.

5. A lighting unit for a dental oiiice to give general indirect room illumination and concentrated illumination for enabling the dentist to operate within the oral cavity, said unit comprising a frame, a plurality of straight line parallel luorescent light sources mounted in said frame, a separate concave trough shaped reflector for each of said light sources mounted in said frame so as to concentrate the light from said light sources in an intense eld of illumination upon the patient and upon the dentist's work space adjacent the patient, a second set of straight line parallel fluorescent light sources superposed in said frame with respect to said first set, a separate concave trough shaped reector for each of said second set of light sources mounted in said frame in back to back substantially contiguous relation with said rst set to maintain the overall height of the unit at a minimum, and arranged to give general indirect room illumination, and reactors mounted in said frame, a support and a bail connected' to said supportand pivotally attached to the frame and extending above and across the same between the upper reflectors to enable the frame to be swung so as to concentrate the light for operating within the oral cavity as desired with the source of general indirect room illumination being hidden from the patients view andV with the light from said upper reectors being substantially unobstructed by said bail.

6. A lighting unit as set forth in claim 3 and wherein there are provided diaphanous sheets of material for diffusing the light from said light sources and together with the frame completely enclosing the light sources.

7. A' lighting unit as set forth in claim 5 and wherein are-provided diaphanous sheets of material arranged angularly to each other for diffusing the light from'said light sources and together with the frame completely enclosing the light sources.

ALPHONSE F. PIEPER. 

